Editor of diocesan paper in Lafayette, Ind., dies at age 59

Published: 2006-10-03

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (CNS) -- Thomas A. Russell, 59, editor of The Catholic Moment, Lafayette's diocesan newspaper, died Sept. 30 at Home Hospital in Lafayette. He had been in ill health the past year. A funeral Mass was to be celebrated Oct. 4 at St. Ann Church in Lafayette, with burial at St. Mary Cemetery in Lafayette. Russell, a member of St. Ann Parish in Lafayette, was also longtime director of the diocesan Pastoral Office for Planning and Communications. Before beginning his tenure there, Russell was the Sunday editor at the Messenger-Inquirer daily newspaper in Owensboro, Ky. He relocated to Lafayette, where he was employed with the Journal and Courier daily newspaper as a reporter, copy editor, local news editor and copy desk chief. He was named editor of The Catholic Moment (then called The Sunday Visitor) by Lafayette Bishop William L. Higi in 1986.

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